By: Miller, Orr, Anderson, Cook of Colorado, H.B. No. 1472
      et al.
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the annexation of land for which property taxes are
imposed based on the land's value for agricultural or wildlife
management purposes or timber production.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Local Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 43.035 to read as follows:
       Sec. 43.035.  AUTHORITY OF MUNICIPALITY TO ANNEX AREA
QUALIFIED FOR AGRICULTURAL OR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT USE OR AS TIMBER
LAND. (a) This section applies only to an area:
             (1)  eligible to be the subject of a development
agreement under Subchapter G, Chapter 212; and
             (2)  appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as land for
agricultural or wildlife management use under Subchapter C or D,
Chapter 23, Tax Code, or as timber land under Subchapter E of that
chapter.
       (b)  A municipality may not annex an area to which this
section applies unless:
             (1)  the municipality offers to make a development
agreement with the landowner under Section 212.172 that would:
                   (A)  guarantee the continuation of the
extraterritorial status of the area; and
                   (B)  authorize the enforcement of all regulations
and planning authority of the municipality that do not interfere
with the use of the area for agriculture, wildlife management, or
timber; and
             (2)  the landowner declines to make the agreement
described by Subdivision (1).
       (c)  For purposes of Section 43.021(2) or another law,
including a municipal charter or ordinance, relating to municipal
authority to annex an area adjacent to the municipality, an area
adjacent or contiguous to an area that is the subject of a
development agreement described by Subsection (b)(1) is considered
adjacent or contiguous to the municipality.
       (d)  A provision of a development agreement described by
Subsection (b)(1) that restricts or otherwise limits the annexation
of all or part of the area that is the subject of the agreement is
void if the landowner files any type of subdivision plat or related
development document for the area with a governmental entity that
has jurisdiction over the area, regardless of how the area is
appraised for ad valorem tax purposes.
       (e)  A development agreement described by Subsection (b)(1)
is not a permit for purposes of Chapter 245.
       SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an annexation for which the first hearing required under Section
43.0561 or 43.063, Local Government Code, as appropriate, occurs on
or after the effective date of this Act. An annexation for which
the first hearing under either of those sections was held before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the
time of the hearing, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
       SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.